DS has for a couple of months now been just barely nursing for less than a minute every now and again. Not surprisingly, his latch has become extremely sloppy and I'm not making any milk.
DS has basically weaned, but every now and again when he is upset he wants to try to see if there is any milk. When he does it hurts. I'm just not comfortable with it anymore. he's not gentle about it at all. I've actually been saying "no" for a few days now explaining that it hurts.
I'd like to help him move on from this weaned but still not sure how to let go phase he is stuck in. I don't really think a weaning party or ritual is the way to go. I feel it would just make it feel forced on him. I feel like what he needs is a new tool to help himself calm down. I actually considered encouraging him to take up thumb-sucking the other day, but it seems kind of crazy to introduce the ideal to a 4 yo who has never done it on his own. he will often take a glass of cow or soy milk as a substitute, but that isn't always available.
DS has basically weaned, but every now and again when he is upset he wants to try to see if there is any milk. When he does it hurts. I'm just not comfortable with it anymore. he's not gentle about it at all. I've actually been saying "no" for a few days now explaining that it hurts.
I'd like to help him move on from this weaned but still not sure how to let go phase he is stuck in. I don't really think a weaning party or ritual is the way to go. I feel it would just make it feel forced on him. I feel like what he needs is a new tool to help himself calm down. I actually considered encouraging him to take up thumb-sucking the other day, but it seems kind of crazy to introduce the ideal to a 4 yo who has never done it on his own. he will often take a glass of cow or soy milk as a substitute, but that isn't always available.
